Eris Eastman

BRADFORD-Eris Metcalf Eastman passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Margaret Pratt Community in Bradford, at the golden age of 100. She was born June 14, 1924, the daughter of William and Ethel (Sweet) Metcalf.
Eris grew up on Taplin Hill in East Corinth, VT, and was educated at the Taplin Hill School House and Bradford Academy, graduating as Valedictorian of the Class of 1941. She received an associate’s degree from the Executive Secretarial Program at Bartlett College in Boston, MA. She was employed at the Vt. Dept. of Education and the U.S. Office of Education in Montpelier, VT from 1943-1947 and was also employed at the Veterans Administration Center in White River Jct., VT from 1947-1951.
She married Ezra “Bud” Eastman on September 2, 1951, a union that would last for 57 years. Together they had two children, Eric and Evan.
After surviving Polio in 1952, she served as a member/chairman of the Bradford Town, Orange County, and Vermont March of Dimes Committees. In 1959, she opened the Eris M. Eastman Business Service in her home. She was Clerk/Treasurer of U.H.S.D. #30 (Oxbow High School & Riverbend Vocational Center) from 1971 until 1985 when she retired from both her business and Oxbow High School. After her husband retired, they became “snowbirds”, spending many winters in Palm Springs, Florida, enjoying the warm winter weather, swimming in the pools, entertaining visitors from the north and making many lifelong friends.
Eris was very active in the Bradford Congregational Church, serving on many committees and holding a variety of offices including Church Council, Church Clerk, Trust Fund Committee, the Board of Trustees, Publicity Director, Service Club, Women’s Fellowship, Mr. & Mrs. Club and Church Historian. She was co-chair of the nationally famous Wild Game Supper from 1966-1995. She was a member/officer of the Bradford Historical Society, the Bradford Conservation Committee, and was active with the Class C Horse Show. In 1996, she received the Citizen of the year award in recognition of her outstanding service to the community. In 2017, she was given the Boston Post Cane as the oldest female resident of Bradford, which she retained until her passing.
Eris was an avid reader and collector of local memorabilia, glass hats and slippers, postcards, and decorative eggs as well as Francis Parkinson Keyes writings. She loved doing crossword puzzles and was rarely stumped.
Eris is survived by her two sons, Eric Eastman and wife Pam of Highland, MD; Evan Eastman and wife Sue of Fairlee, VT; her beloved grandson, Nathaniel Eastman of Glen Burnie, MD; her sister Vida Perry Munson of Bradford and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Ezra in 2008 and brother Bryce Metcalf in 2016.
A graveside service will be held at the family lot in Upper Plain Cemetery in Bradford, VT, on what would have been her 101st birthday, June 14, 2025, at 1:00 pm. A celebration of Life will follow at the Bradford Congregational Church, Main St, Bradford, VT.
Her family would like to thank the great caregivers at the Margarett Pratt Community and Bayada Hospice for the loving care that was given to her.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Margaret Pratt Community, 210 Plateau Acres, Bradford, VT 05033 or at www.margaretpratt.org/donate .
Arrangements are in the care of Hale Funeral Home, 187 Upper Plain in Bradford.